Movie Review: ‘Conclave’

Plot: After the Pope dies of a heart attack, the College of Cardinals gathers in Vatican City to elect a new Pontiff under the leadership of Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes). With no clear front-runner for the Papacy, four Cardinals emerge: American liberal Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci), Canadian moderate Joseph Tremblay (John Lithgow), far-right Italian traditionalist Goffredo Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), and Nigerian conservative Joshua Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati). However, as the votes continue Lawrence uncovers a web of intrigue and deceit, even among those he thought his closest friends. Matters become even more complicated when a mysterious, previously unknown Cardinal named Vincent Benitez (Carlos Diehz) joins the conclave. As time progresses, the stakes rise and Lawrence soon discovers how far his fellow Cardinals will go to gain the highest post in the Catholic Church.

Review: So Cardinals on the table (hey it’s Christmas and I’m in full Dad-joke mode, don’t judge) I have a complicated relationship with the Catholic Church. I grew up Catholic and my late mother was a staunch devotee who attended mass every day. However, due to a progressive disillusionment with the institution, I’m now a member of a Christian non-denominational church. The only reason I even bring this up, is to highlight that I have skin in the game when it comes to the Catholic Church. The inner workings of director Edward Berger’s masterful Conclave connected with me on a visceral level and added a layer of complexity to my viewing experience.

Speaking of viewing experiences, I don’t want to inadvertently ruin anyone’s own who hasn’t yet seen Conclave. Consequently, I’ve decided to keep plot details at a minimum due to the nature of the film. Suffice it to say that Peter Straughan’s screenplay (adapted from the Robert Harris novel) absolutely electrifies. Conclave feels and unfolds like an Agatha Christie novel, crossed with the palace intrigue of Elizabeth, with just a dash of John le Carre. Think Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy but in the Vatican and you’ll be near the mark. Coincidentally, Straughan adapted that film as well and you can definitely see the influence, as Conclave sizzles with intrigue throughout.

Conclave proves to be the perfect marriage between director and screenwriter. Oscar winner Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front) helms his first English language feature and directs Conclave like a gripping police procedural, with Fiennes’ Cardinal Lawrence slowly uncovering clues that expose his colleagues’ true motivations. Some, like Cardinal Tedesco wear their prejudices and lust for power on their sleeve, while others like Lithgow’s Tremblay are more subtle. Matters are further complicated by the arrival of the mysterious Cardinal of Kabul, Vincent Benitez, who is not at all what he seems. Outwardly, an election can appear routine, even mundane, yet Berger utilizes cinematographer Stephane Fontaine to great effect, shooting Conclave like a suspense thriller. It transforms something as simple as filling out a ballot, setting out a place mat for dinner, or smoking a vape pen into something captivating. Couple this with Volker Bertelmann’s sharp and nuanced score and the result is one Hell of a film.

The performances in Conclave are also top-notch. Tucci’s Cardinal Bellini comes off initially as the most likeable Cardinal, a progressive Catholic who seeks to embrace new ideas. However, his insistence that he doesn’t want the Papacy hides false modesty. Lucian Msamati’s Adeyemi desperately wants to be the first African Pope yet his conservative social views, especially on homosexuality, are borderline barbaric. However it pales in comparison to Sergio Castellitto’s Cardinal Tedesco whose militant right-wing views extend so far as to suggest a holy war against Islam. Castellitto is stunning here, with his Tedesco the overt villain you love to hate. John Lithgow’s Cardinal Tremblay proves to be the most subtle and devious, someone that smiles in your face but holds a dagger behind his back. Yet it’s Carlos Diehz’s Cardinal Benitez that comes off the most mysterious and intriguing. The fact that his appointment was done in secret by the previous Pope and that he’s the Cardinal of Kabul, makes him even more inscrutable. Despite being an architect in real life, Diehz’s delivers one of the best performances in the entire film including a dynamic and riveting speech toward the end of Conclave.

However, Ralph Fiennes ultimately leads the charge. Despite being the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Fiennes’ Lawrence is experiencing a crisis of faith and wishes to retire and join a Catholic order. His discovery that the Cardinals around him (including himself) are as susceptible to the temptations of power as the next man, further fuels his cynicism. Yet Lawrence also feels that it’s important to elect a Pope who harbors doubts, that isn’t so enamored of his own convictions that he never considers other points of view. Fiennes elicits empathy and delivers a nuanced, compelling performance that’s a career best and sure to garner him an Oscar nomination.

Before I conclude this review, I would like to address Conclave‘s ending. While I won’t spoil it here, suffice it to say I was not expecting it. “Twist ending” doesn’t come close to covering it. I haven’t been that caught off guard by an ending in quite some time. Having said that I’m still unsure whether or not it completely works. Some will label it “woke” (a pejorative that I believe has lost all meaning), however I believe “provocative” hits closer to the mark. The fact that I’m still wrestling with the ending is probably the point.

Regardless, Conclave ultimately proves to be one of the most well-crafted films of 2024. Equally parts entertaining, intriguing, and thought provoking, you won’t want to miss this one.

*I wanted to make a note of a change in my rating system. While I consider a 10/10 A Must See, it doesn’t mean it’s a masterpiece. However, I certainly see masterpieces from time to time. Having said that I’ve added an additional score that I’ve designated simply Masterpiece.

My rating system:

1 God Awful Blind Yourself With Acid Bad

2 Straight Garbage

3 Bad

4 Sub Par

5 Average

6 Ok

7 Good

8 Great

9 Excellent

10 A Must See

Masterpiece

Conclave: 9/10